ABOUT THIS ALBUM

Album Notes

"The Jazz trombone of Jerry Tilitz leads a remarkable session in the company of some of New York City's most notable jazz standard-bearers: versatile bassist and M-Base collaborator Lonnie Plaxico, scalding tenor saxophonist Don Braden, phenomenal drummer Cecil Brooks III, and tasteful pianist Michael Cochrane...Notwithstanding the tragic passing of J. J. Johnson - arguably the Charlie Parker of the modern trombone - the state of the instrument is as healthy as ever, especially with the formidable talents of composers and players such as Jerry Tilitz."- John Stevenson www.jazzreview.com

Jerry Tilitz is an american trombonist,vocalist and composer from New York City. In the course of his career Mr. Tilitz has performed and recorded with many exceptional artists including Gerry Mulligan, Horace Parlan, Hank Jones, Roy Eldridge, Benny Golson, Herb Geller, Tommy Flanagan, Al Foster, Tete Montoliu, Danny Moss, Randy Sandke, Tom Harrell, Benny Bailey, Bill Mays, Randy Brecker and others.

After studying with Jazz luminaries Lennie Tristano and the influencial trombonist Curtis Fuller, Jerry began his professional career with Billy Taylor's Jazzmobile Big Band program. In addition to becoming involved in New York City's vibrant club and studio scene he taught jazz theory and analysis at Queensboro College and received a grant for composition and performance from the prestigious U.S. National Endowment for the Arts.

More recently Mr.Tilitz has hosted his own radio program in Germany called An American In Hamburg, played in musical productions including Cats, Chorus Line, 42nd Street and Ain’t Misbehavin’ and written for publications such as the well regarded Jazz Journal International. He has produced several recordings for his own label Both Feet Records including The Dance Of The Living Room Sofas (BF 1002-2) featuring Don Braden, Lonnie Plaxico, Cecil Brooks III and Michael Cochrane and Jerry Tilitz/The New York Tapes (BF 1001-2), a CD sampler of his New York City period which includes his bands featuring Tom Harrell, Arnie Lawrence, Jim McNeely, Bob Moses, Harold Danko, Jerome Harris, Gary Smulyan and Billy Hart. Also available is a recording released on the german label Bellaphon, Tales Of Two Cities (CDLR 45035) with Horace Parlan, Adam Nussbaum, Ray Drummond, and Bill Mays and the new CD Back To Back, the latest addition to his discography on the Nagel Heyer label.

These days Jerry appears with his trio and quartet, as a guest soloist and tries to find time to write for his 4 trombone latin group Raging Bones and The Swing Composers’ Orchestra which features original compositions in the late swing/early bebop genre.